Here we are in the home stretch. There are only a few days left to see all the Christmas movies you can, so make them count.
As you revisit familiar holiday encores - everything from the Grinch to It’s a Wonderful Life - it would be worthwhile to check out the PBS Christmas offerings on AETN. There’s some especially good stuff still left in the lineup.
Let’s start with Mr. Stink starring Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville. This should be a real eye-opener for those who only know Bonneville as the prim and proper (and quite hygienic) Lord Grantham.
Based on the 2009 book by David Walliams and illustrated by Quentin Blake, Mr. Stink is an hour-long family comedy “with a nose-clenching twist.” It airs at 7 p.m. today on AETN.
In the special, lonely 12-year old Chloe Crumb (Nell Tiger Free) sees Mr. Stink every day on her way to school, but she’s never spoken to him. That isn’t surprising, because he’s a homeless tramp - and he stinks.
Sadly, Chloe’s overbearing mother is more interested in her political ambitions, and her harried father spends his time yearning for his old life as a rock guitarist.
Chloe also has an annoyingly “perfect” child prodigy younger sister Annabelle. To exacerbate Chole’s life, there are the Mean Girls at school who live to make her life miserable.
One day, Chloe meets the malodorous Mr. Stink and his clever dog Duchess and invites them to live in the family’s garden shed.
Chloe becomes Mr. Stink’s best friend.
It turns out that there’s more to Mr. Stink than meets the eye (or nose). Drama happens when Chloe discovers his real identity and the sad events that led to his vagrancy.
This special is more poignant than anything else, although there is plenty of humor along the way.
Sheridan Smith plays Caroline, the mum; Johnny Vegas plays Dad. Isabella Blake-Thomas portrays Annabelle, and Pudsey the Dog stars as Duchess.
If you miss the initial airing, the program will encore at 2 a.m. Tuesday, and at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 29. Program note: For Bonneville fans, AETN will air Part 6 of Season 3 of Downton Abbey from 9 to 11 p.m. today.
Season 4 of Downton Abbey debuts Jan. 5 and I’ll have a preview of the new season in TV Week in two weeks.
Joyful noise. For many, the best part about the holidays is the Christmas choral music from around the world. PBS and AETN have a special hour planned at 8 p.m. Monday.
Christmas in Norway With the St. Olaf Choir airs from Trondheim’s historic Nidaros Cathedral and features the 75-voice choir from St. Olaf College, as well as the Norwegian girl choir, Nidaros Jentekor.
PBS tells us, “The production pairs the cathedral’s spare Gothic beauty and stunning acoustics with the distinctive a cappella singing style for which the St. Olaf Choir is internationally known.” Musical selections include creative arrangements of Christmas music (“The WordWas God” and “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming/The Rose”), gospel tunes (“This Little Light of Mine”) and Norwegian hymns and folk songs.
More music. Christmas Eve will bring two additional hours of special music to AETN.
At 7 p.m., Christmas at Belmont will be hosted by mezzo soprano Denyce Graves. The special was taped at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, Tenn., with almost 700 student musicians joining the Belmont School of Music faculty and the Nashville Children’s Choir.
The program presents traditional carols, classical works, world music and light-hearted seasonal favorites.
The program features the University Symphony Orchestra, Belmont Chorale, Percussion Ensemble, Musical Theatre, Jazz Ensemble, Bluegrass Ensemble and a mass choir.
Following at 8 p.m. is Christmas With the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Featuring Alfie Boe and Tom Brokaw.
The title just about says it all.
Boe is a Tony Award-winningtenor and Brokaw is the wellknown journalist and author.
For the kids. Finally, as the Christmas season winds down, let’s not forget the small fry.
AETN will repeat a couple of specials Christmas Eve and Christmas Day that are sure to please.
The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About Christmas! encores at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday. The hour-long adventure finds the Cat in the Hat, Nick and Sally on a journey around the world to help a lost reindeer find his way home to Freezeyourknees Snowland in time for Christmas.
On the way, the Thingamajigger breaks down and they depend on a variety of animals - from African elephants and bottlenose dolphins to red crabs - to help them make the journey home.
And, at 6 a.m. Wednesday morning, AETN puts the day on Christmas autopilot starting with Arthur’s Perfect Christmas, followed at 7 with Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas. A host of musical specials then air all the way to PBS Newshour at 5:30 p.m.
TV Week, Pages 87 on 12/22/2013